Wire-stretcher.



UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

FREDERIC CALVIN GARTON, OFSCHOOIIHOUSE, TEST VIRGINIA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,474, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed November 2, 1901. Serial No. 80,921. (No model.)

To all whowt it' may concern:

Beit known that I, FREDERIC CALVIN GAR- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schoolhouse, in the county of Jackson and State of West Virginia, have invented a new and useful Tire-Stretcher, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention is a combination wire stretcher, fastener, and cutter, the object of the invention being to provide an exceedingly simple, durable, and efcient hand-tool by means of which wire, both barbed and smooth, can be quickly and easily stretched, secured, and fastened while being stapled to the post and also a tool by means of which wire can be cut without use of pliers.

With these objects in View the invention consists of a ybar having a claw-hook at its forward end, the rear end havinga lateral extension terminating in a cutting edge, said bar being curved or bowed adjacent to its forward end and provided with hooks or other fastening means upon opposite sides of the curved or bowed portion.

The invention consists also in novel features hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming part of this speciiication, Figure l is a View illustrating the manner of using my invention while stretching a strand of smooth wire. Fig. 2 is a plan View illustrating a step in the stretching operation. Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the manner of fastening or securing the wil'e while it is being stapled to a post. Fig. t is a detail perspective view of my combination wire stretcher, fastener, and cutter.

In constructing a tool in accordance with my invention I employ a metal bar A, preferably of steel and of such dimension as to admit of convenient handling. The forward end of this bar is formed into a curved split claw B, while the rear end is formed with a lateral extension D, the end D of which terminates in a cutting edge. Adjacent to the forward end the bar is curved or bowed, as shown at E, said curved or bowed portion being substantially equal to asemicircle. A hook F is arranged upon the barbetween the claw B and curveE, and upon opposite side of said bar, between the curve E and end D, I arrange a shank G, carrying a plurality of hooks G. In stretching and fastening smooth wire the strand is inserted in the claw and passed beneath the hook F, said hook being intended to hold the strand of wire securely seated in the claw. When barbed wire is being stretched, however, it is not necessary to arrange the strand beneath the hook F. After the wire has been properly connected to the forward end of the tool the wire is pulled until the curved portion of the bar can be made to embrace the fence-post, as shown in Fig. 2. The post is then used as a fulcrum and the lever turned thereon until one of the hooks G' can be brought into engagement with the stretched strand of wire, as most clearlyindicated in Fig. While the wire is then held it can be securely stapled to the fence-post. In case it is desired to cut the wire it is Lplaced upon the cutting edge D and given a sharp blow with the hammer, thereby severing the wire without the use of pliers.

It will thus be seen that I provide a very simple and highly efficient combination wire stretcher, fastener, and cutter and one which can be easily manipulated for stretching and fastening both smooth and barbed wire.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

As a new article of manufacture, a combined Wire stretcher and holder comprising a bar having a curved split claw at its forward end, said bar being curved or bowed substantially in the form of a semicirele adjacent to the forward end, a hook arranged Vupon the. bar between the claw and curved portion, and a shank carrying a plurality of hooks arranged upon opposite side of the curved portion and also upon the opposite side of the bar, substantially as described.

FREDERIC CALVIN CARTON.

Witnesses:

A. IIERRENKOHL, ELLEE BUSH. 

